4 Routine Behaviors That Damage Your Plumbing

Jan 23, 2017

The plumbing in your Lake Bluff, Illinois, home is an integral part of your life. When it works, you rarely think about it. When it doesn’t work, you deal with inconvenience and disruption. Many people have bad habits that harm their plumbing and don’t even realize these behaviors are affecting the condition of their pipes. Are you guilty of these plumbing no-nos?

Washing Coffee Grounds Down the Sink

Coffee grounds are a big problem for pipes. Coffee beans contain oils and greases that make the grounds stick together in your plumbing. Over time, the coffee grounds collect and form clogs in your pipes. Don’t put them down the garbage disposal, either, because that can still create a problem. Always dump your grounds into the trash can.

What You Flush

Feminine hygiene products, kitty litter and trash do not belong in the toilet. Toilet paper dissolves in water, making it safe to flush (as long as you don’t flush it in massive quantities). Note that not all sanitary wipes are flushable. A good rule of thumb is to avoid flushing anything that is not biodegradable.

Letting Hair Go Down the Drain

Hair is a major cause of plumbing clogs. No matter the length of your hair, over time, the strands accumulate to cause clogs. It is a good idea to use a hair trap in your shower.

Using Chemicals

When you have a clog, it’s easy to dump drain cleaner in the sink or tub instead of calling a plumber. The problem with drain cleaners? They don’t resolve the problem fully. Your drain will run okay for a while, but the clog will appear again. Plus, the chemicals in the cleaners can damage pipes overtime.

If you have bad habits when using your plumbing, the important thing is that you recognize and stop them. When you have plumbing problems, call Carefree Comfort, Inc. before you reach for the drain cleaner. We’ll fully remove clogs, examine your pipes and sort out your plumbing problems. Give us a call at 847-388-0115 to schedule an appointment for service.